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Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and running back De'Anthony Thomas were two members of the 2011 recruiting class who entered with differing hype but went on to produce huge statistics for the Ducks.
(Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian)

EUGENE – Without meaning to, Mark Helfrich summed up the wait-and-see essence of National Signing Day last week in one off-the-cuff evaluation of a new Oregon signee.

“He’s going to end up being … something,” the second-year Oregon football coach said of Justin Hollins, a 6-foot-5 defender who, like every recruit, carries impressive credentials but zero guarantee of success.

That uncertainty -- especially at a program such as Oregon where talent often makes it difficult for younger players to get on the field early -- is why perhaps a better judge of a recruiting class is not the average stars it earns on signing day and instead the perspective of three seasons.

Why three? It’s affords a recruit time for a possible redshirt season, a second season where playing time might be scarce and finally a third season where his true effect might be felt. Not all players follow that careful arc, of course: for some breakout stars, three years might cover an entire career from freshman season to early entry for the NFL.

In the case of Oregon’s Class of 2011, its 23 members ran the full length of that spectrum. There were players of whom much was expected but left the program early mixed in with those who were less-heralded but become mega-watt stars such as Marcus Mariota. Though many classes can claim hits and misses, Oregon’s arguably best-ever recruiting class lived up to the hype.

The class of 2011 was headlined by a priority on linebackers and offensive linemen and the late decision by De’Anthony Thomas to switch from a commitment from USC to Oregon. Three years later it’s difficult to argue Thomas didn’t become the sleek star from Crenshaw he was made out to be. When he decided to skip his senior season for the NFL in January, he did so with the third-most total yards and fourth-most points in school history.

Thomas was just one of seven true freshmen who played from the class, including tight end Colt Lyerla, cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and offensive lineman Jake Fisher, yet the biggest star of all wouldn’t show his talents until the next spring.

In a class with Rivals’ five-star athletes Lyerla – whom then-coach Chip Kelly called “arguably the best athlete in the country” -- and Thomas, three-star Marcus Mariota’s biography did not initially jump off the page. On signing day 2011, Kelly described Mariota as a guy “who can run; he’s the perfect fit for what we do offensively.”

That description has proven apt. He has become the face of the program since winning the quarterback job in 2012, a season five other classmates started, as well.

The quarterback’s name will be in the mix for the Heisman Trophy and top-10 NFL draft choice for a second straight season in 2014, his third year as starter.

He is one of four players in the class who entertained NFL ambitions this season and joins Ekpre-Olomu as returners next season despite the lure of NFL riches. Thomas opted to skip his senior season three months after Lyerla left the team for personal reasons to begin training for the NFL early. His junior season's sub-par performances and ultimate headline – a guilty plea for cocaine possession – marred what were two extremely productive seasons as a bruising tight end for Oregon.

Nine of the 23 Ducks signed became either starters or major contributors, including starting linebacker Rodney Hardrick, left tackle Tyler Johnstone. Rahim Cassell and Tyson Coleman were used heavily in the linebacker rotation.

That core group has contributed so much to Oregon’s 35-5 record since their signings that it makes up for the steep drop-off in what the rest of the class has accomplished.

Six eventually left before their eligibility was exhausted, including Tra Carson and four-star receivers Devon Blackmon and Tacoi Sumler after one season and linebacker Anthony Wallace after two. Carlyle Garrick and James Euscher have each retired due to injuries since last spring. The departed six doesn’t include Lyerla’s departure, or short careers of junior college receiver Rahsaan Vaughn and JC lineman Jared Ebert.

Others remain unproven entering their fourth seasons.

Receiver B.J. Kelley, offensive linemen Jamal Prater and Andre Yruretagoyena, defensive linemen Sam Kamp and Christian French and tight end Koa Ka’ai all have been passed on the depth chart by younger players since their arrivals.

Should they earn consistent playing time next fall, it would only add to the prestige of the 2011 class, one that made its name early and come 2015, could produce two first-round NFL draft picks.